Amusement device



ay A. A. PAYNE AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Jan. 24, 1927 millllrwM INIy 'ITLVTOR F aY T1 E Y 0 H @n A... H HJ m 1 y l Mz i W @2m mg Patented May 24, 1927.

UNITED .STATESy ARTHUR A. PAYNE, or HUMBOLDT, KANSAS.

' AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

Application filed January 24, 1927. Serial No. (163,125.

This invention relates to amusement devices wherein a novelly constructed counting head is used at the end of a semi-circular track to indicate the score made by 'the player of the game.

The primary object of the instant invention is the contemplation of certain improvements and refinements of construction the use of which will render the counting head of the device cheap to make, Aeasier to assemble and less likely to get out of order.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a counting head for amusementdevices which includes a plurality of slots through which the 'operating arms for the counting drops may project when the dropsetting mechanism vof the device is operated.

An even further objectof this invention is to provide a novelly constructed ball catching trough which is constructed to include means for precluding the return of the thrown ball through the entrance to the counting head.

Many minor objects will appear during the course of the detailed speciication referring to the accompanying drawing, in which: I

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an amusement device having a countinghead made in 30 accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical central section through the novelly constructed counting head. f

Fig. 3 is a face view of the counting head showing one of the drops in the released position. ff Fig. 4E is a vertical section through the counting head taken on :line IV-IV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the same taken on line V-V of Fig. 3, and,

Fig. 6 isa vdetailed view of the shaft and pulley.

Similar reference clutracters refer to like parts of the device throughout the several views, and the numeral 7 designates a ballrolling track which terminates in an upwardly disposed and -forwardly extending semi-circular end which carries the housing of the counting head 8 in such a manner that the thrown ball 9 will enter as shown in Fig. 2 to strike the pivotally mounted pins 10 supported within the counting head adjacent the ball entrance.

It is known that this arrangement is old in the art, and it is understood that the this mechanism, the striking of anyone of the many pins 10 will causethe release of a counting drop 12 which, as shown in the drawing,4v is slid'ably mounted against the face ofthe counting head by grooved strips 14. When theV counting drops vare released to fall to the position shown in Fig. 3, a

numeral or other suitable indicating mark is revealed. l/Vhen the counting drops 1.2 are 1n the. set position, `the numeral 'or the like is concealed therebehind.

Heretofore, the mechanism used to return the counting drops to 'the'.l set .position has ,been highly complicated, often hindered the falling of thecounting drop 12 at vthe desired' dropping time, and was expensive to make. yAccordingly', the invention contemplates the use of simple mechanism as fully illustrated herein and essentially including a shaft 15 extending across the counting head at a point spaced to the rear of the4 face thereof. This shaft 15 rigidly supports a plurality of arms 16 each `ofwliich extends forwardly through a slot 17 formedin the front wall of the counting head. As will be noticed from the drawing, each of the arms 16 terminates at a point near the' bottom of the slot 17 to engage beneath the bottom of the drop when, it is inthe lowered position. Thus, each armv 16 becomes'a stop for the downward movement of the respective drop 12. After the desired number o f drops havefbeen released, it is possible to return them to the set position through the shaft and arm struc- Vture simply by rotating the shaft through the use of any suitable means such as the pulley 18, rigidly secured to one end of the shaft 15 outside of the counting head.

The manner in which this pulley is attached to the shaft may vary, but this method is deemed the most inexpensive. A plate 19, having a Squared opening is rigidly secured to the pulley through the use ofv screws or the like 20, and engages the squared end 21 of the shaft 15. To keep the assembly from slipping off, the machine screw 22 may be screwthrea'ded into the end of the shaft-as shown in Fig; 6.

Torotate the shaft, a @able 23 is passed Another structural refinement found inl the device made in accordance with this invention is shown in Figs. 2, t. and 5. This reiinement refers to the ball returning means Which, in this invention includes a trough 'having an anglerv side 2G andan inclined bottom 27 which is lower at the ball return passage 28 than at its opposite end. Another side ot the trough is shown, at 20, and is disposed in a position to positively preclude the thrown ball 9 from returning through the opening through Which it enteredv the counting head. llhis trough assembly is located beneath the pivotallf.7 mounted pins 10, and the sides thereof as Well as the pin stops 30 and the ends of the pins, are covered with resilientA material.

By combining these refinements of structure with the game device known in the art, the inventor has produced a iinished product having very desirable qualities.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent is: Y

l. In a counting head or games of the character described, a plurality lot slidably mounted drops mounted for movement over thc face ot said head, a slot formed through said tace behind the path ot travel of each drop respectively, a shait rotatably mounted within said head having an arm extending through each of said slots respectively tor operative engagement With the respective drop and means tor rotating said shaft to cause the arms to travel through said slots t0 lift the drops to the set position.

2. In a counting head for games et the character described having a plurality of slidably mounted counting drops, means .for returning said drops to the set positionk including a shaft, a plurality of arms integral with said shait and positioned to engage beneath each of said drops respectively and means for rotating said shaft.

3. In a counting head `for games of the character described having a plurality of slidably mounted counting drops, a plurality or" slots Jr'ormed behind the path of travel ot saiddrops and means for returning the saine to the setiposition including a rotatable shaft having a plurality of arms each extending exteriorly of the head through its respective slot, said arms adapted to form stops for the drops to limttillir movement when they are released to slide from theset position.

4;. in a counting head for games ot the character described having a plurality ci: slidably mounted counting drops, ,a like nurnicr ot slots termed through the face otsaid head behind the path of travel ci' each kdrop respectively, a rotatable shaft having plurality oi" laterally extending arms each passing through a slot toL engage the respective drop when it falls to the released position, manually operable means for rotating'said shaft to litt said drops to the set position and means tor retrieving Vand yieldably maintaining Vsaid shaft and arms in the ready position.l l .i 5. In a counting head tor'games or' the character described having a plurality ot pivotally supported drop Y releasing pins, means tor guiding the pin actuatingrball to the ball returning passage of saidgaijne in cluding a cushioned bal-l stopping Wall, an inclinediicor in liuxtapcs itvion to said Wall having its lowermost end adjacent said pas sage and a combinedcushioned partition and guide Wall cooperating vvith said first men` tioned VWall and floor `to vinsure proper rctnrn ot the ball and preclude its leaving said counting head through the ball entrance. 1

G. In a counting' head tor games 'of the character described, a plurality of ball aetuating pins and means for catching'and returning said ball to the player including a trough disposed beneath said pins hav-ing an inclined fieor, a Cushioned ball-stopping wall of coniparatively grcat'height disposed at an angle to guide theball into said trough and a combined v guide and partition Wall adapted to preclude the return of saidball through the entrance to said counting head. In testimony whereof, I'hereunt'o atiizg kmy signaturethis 18th day of January,1927.

ARTHUR A. PAYNE.'

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